TN Loses Arts Advocate, Phil Whitaker
By Anne B. Pope, Executive Director –
The Commission is saddened to hear of the passing of a previous Commission Board member, Phil B. Whitaker. Phil served the Commission from 1983 to 1987. The board, the staff and I send our sincerest condolences to Phil’s family. We will always appreciate his service to the arts in Chattanooga and all of Tennessee.
Below is Phil’s obituary, previously published on Chattanoogan.com
Phil B. Whitaker, lawyer and civic leader, died on July 30, 2016 at the age of 83.
He was born on June 23, 1933 to Tavenner Hazlewood and Philip Bailey Whitaker. A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Phil was dedicated to our local community, committed especially to programs and institutions supporting education and the arts. His many civic contributions included chairing the boards of the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Symphony, The Baylor School, and the Chattanooga Bible Institute and serving on the boards of the Allied Arts, Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Phil was a strong supporter of these and numerous other organizations, both personally with his time and talents and as a highly effective and productive fundraiser. He was honored as National Philanthropy Day Leadership Fundraiser of the Year in 2001 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Tennessee, Southeastern Chapter.
After attending Bright School and The Baylor School, Phil graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of the South: Sewanee in 1955 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. From 1955 to 1958, he served his country as an Air Force fighter pilot, flying the F-86 Sabre jet. He entered law school upon completion of his military service and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1961.
Phil practiced law for more than 40 years with the firm of Witt, Gaither & Whitaker, focusing primarily on labor law, tax and estate planning. He was elected a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation in 1995. Although he represented a variety of individuals and businesses throughout his legal career, he found pro bono work to be the most fulfilling of his legal activities.
A devoted resident of Lookout Mountain, Tn., since 1961, Phil served as senior warden of The Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain and mayor of the town of Lookout Mountain.
Phil’s greatest passion was his family. He was happiest during the last 25 years of his life when he and his wife, Ellen, and their children, children-in-law, grandchildren, and many dogs gathered for family vacations at their beach house on St. George Island, Florida.
Phil is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ellen Shutze Whitaker; their three children, Barbara Overstreet (John), Philip Whitaker (Cindy) and Charlie Whitaker (Norvell); and nine grandchildren. His sisters, Phyllis Whitaker Finlay and Hilda Whitaker Kinder, and brother, Matt Newton Whitaker II, predeceased him.
The family thanks Phil’s loyal caregivers Debbie Reeves, Peggy Sumida, Renée Ledford, and Darrell Blevins; the staff at Memorial Hospital; and Hospice of Chattanooga, who helped make his last days peaceful.
A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 211 Franklin Road, Lookout Mountain, Tn., on Friday, Aug. 5, at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church’s Talbird Hall beginning at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Phil’s memory to The Baylor School (especially if you are a McCallie fan) or to a charity of your choice.
